Apparatus and method for introducing engine drainage into the fuel system



Feb. 23, 1965 c. P. GoGGl APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTRODUCING ENGINE DRAINAGE INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 5, 1962 INVENTOR ATTO/ E75 @mgm-s f? GoGG/ BY 7/ Y der.

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ldfid@ Patented Feb. 2.3, 1965 3,170,449 APPARATUS AND'METHOD FR INTRODUCING ENGINE DRAINAGE INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM Charles P. Goggi, Staten Island, N.Y., assigner to Goggi Corporation, Staten Island, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 228,166 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 136) This invention relates to the `fuel system of an internal combustion engine and more particularly to apparatus for introducing drainage recovered from thev engine crankcase into the fuel system during operation.

In certain internal combustionfengin'es such as a twostrokey cycle engine, the crankcase serves as a portion of,

the engine induction system. There the fuelv air mixture from the carburetor passes through a valving arrangement into the crankcase and subsequently through an intake port into the engine cylinder. The outward stroke of the piston creates a suction condition which causes the flow of the fuel air vmixture through a pressure responsive valve into the crankcase. The mixture within the crankcase is pressurized by the inward stroke of the piston so that the mixture flows into the cylinder through the intake port whenever it` is exposed by the piston. Thus the crankcase serves as an, intermediate portion of the induction system between the valve arrangement and the cylin- During starting of the engine as Well as during operation, portions of the vapor in the fuel air mixture are condensed during passage through the crankcase and accumulate therein. Unsuccessful attempts at starting and excessive choking of the carburetor can add-to the accumulation of ycondensed vapor within the crankcase. In the case of the two-stroke cycle engine where the crankcase serves as a portion of the induction system it is cornmon practice to include the lubricating oil into the fuel supply since the fuel air mixture containing the oil contacts the various operating portions of the kengine adjament Vthe crankcase as well as the cylinder, With lubricating oil included inthe fuel it is evident that the condensate within the crankcase includes both fuel and lubricat- It is undesirable to have an accumulation of liquid fuel f and oil within the crankcase since the liquid can enter a cylinder land become trapped during the outwardstroke of the piston. The trapping of sufficient liquid-between the piston and the cylinder head results in hydraulic-lock which can be destructive to the engine due to the incompressible nature of the liquid. Furthermore, an accumulation of liquid Within the crankcase can vary the fuel air ratio of the mixture being delivered to the cylinder with the result that faulty operation can occur. An excessive quantity of ,liquid can also promote spark plug fouling.

t liquid directly from the engine is an ineicient practice since the liquid is composed of fuel and lubricating oil which would normally be consumed by passing through the engine cylinder. .It can also beseen that the venting of the liquid into the exhaust system can serve as the source of obnoxious fumes and vapors as the liquid is Y swept from the engine along the hot exhaust gas. In

the case of outboard motors for boats where the two-stroke cycle is the standard typel used, the venting of the liquid United States Patent Oice directly overboard or through the exhaust system-v which passes underwater can cause the contamination of the -Apparatus and Method for Recovering Engine Drainage there is shown a system for delivering the fuel and oil drainage from the engine to the fuel tank of the engine fuel system. In my co-pending applicati-on, Serial No. 180,593, filed March 19, 1962, now abandoned, and entitled Apparatus and Method for Pumping Engine Drainage there is shown a system in which a pump delivers the drainage from the engine to the fuel tank of the fuel system. Since the lubricating oil mixed with the fuel is much less volatile than the fuel, it can be understood that the proportion of they 4oil in the drainage recovered from the crankcase greatly exceeds the proportion of the oil inthe fuel that is normally delivered to the fuel system. rl`hus the ratio of oil to fuelin the drainage is much higher than that of the fuel mixture recommended by the engine manufacturer.

Experience has shown that during the operation of an engine having the drainage recovery provisions of my copending patent applications, there is a tendency for the drainage to enter the fuel tank andv to accumulate along its bottom portion since this oil-rich drainage is denser than the normal fuel-oil mixture within the fuel tank. Due lto the efcient operation of the drainage recovery system an appreciable quantity of drainage is returned to the fuel tank in view of the quantity of fuel and lubricating oil consumed. Since the recovered liquid tends to accumulate in the bottom portion of the fuel tank it is evident that the liquid will gradually lill the tank unless it is disbursed within the remainder of the liquid within the tank. If an accumulation of the recovered liquid occurs to the extent that it fills a portion of the tank it is possible for the oil-rich drainage to be transferred directly this occurs the -oil-rich mixture can cause ineflicient operav tion since the excess oil can foul the spark plugs. In addition operation with an excess of lubricating oil can cause an-undue accumulation of deposit within the cylinder and at the piston. Besides affecting the operation of the engine, excessive amounts of oil in the mixture can produce an undesirable smoke condition at the engine exhaust.

In addition operation with the drainage recovery provisionsl of the cited patent applications has shown that a certain portion of the vapor recovered from the crankcase can escape even though the drainage is initially delivered to the fuel system. Y The presence of the Volume of vapor in the recovered drainage also can interfere with fuel systems which are normally sealed .from the atmosphere, since in such a system the delivery of the vapor can cause an excessive pressure build-up. y,

The principal object of the invention is to distribute the drainage recovered from the engine into the fuel and oil mixture being delivered to the engine.

Another object of the invention is to meter the drainage recovered from the engine into the fuel-oilmixture being delivered to the engine at a rate which precludes the accumulation of the drainage within the fuel system.

vStill another object of the invention is lto condense at least a portion of the vapor in the drainage system in order that it can be delivered as condensate to the fuel system.

A fur-ther object of the invention is to condense and deliver at least Va portion of the vapor of the drainage system into the fuel system and to return any remaining portion of the vapor to the engine for combustion therein.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a sealed fuel system in which the drainage is distributed into the fuel-oil mixture being delivered to the engine and in which the uncondensed vapor from the drainage system is delivered to the engine for combustion therein.

ber and into pipe34 on its way to carburetor 15. f- Pipe 32 entering the lower chamber adjacent pipe 34 enables In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided .a chamber having an inlet and yan outlet through which the fuel-oilmixture is adapted tok flow. Means are provided for delivering a liquid such as drainage from the engine into the chamberV at a point adjacent the path of flow therein so that the drainage is distributed into the fuel-oil mixture passing through thechamber.

In another embodiment of the invention, the chamber having inlet and outlet openings is adapted to have at least one of theopenings in communication with the interior portion of the fuel-oil mixture container.

In still lanother embodiment of the invention there is provided a chamber which is adapted to receive drainage liquid and vapor from an engine. Means are provided `within the chamber for condensing `at least a portion of be apparent from the following description and'claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an outboard motor in which the drainage recovered from the engine is distributed into the fuel-oil mixture;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section View of the device for distributing drainage into the fuel-oil mixture; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section view showing the upper chamber of the device leading to the fuel tank.

Referring now to thedrawings, FIG. l shows a two-y stroke cycle outboard motor comprising cylindersv lll in which reciprocatepistons 12. The cylinders extend from crankcase 13 which contains crankshaft I4. The fuel air mixture is delivered to the crankcase by means of carburetor 15.

The outboard motor can be provided with any of the various drainage recovery provisions Set forth in my copending applications. Thus as is shown in FIG. 1 Vdrainage from the crankcase can flow through passage 16 into the drainage liquid from pipe 32 to enter adjacent the path of the ilow of liquid passing into outlet 3311- and onto pipe 34. Thus it can be seenthatthe liquid receivedfrom the drainage system by the lower chamber is distributedl or metered into the liquid passing-from the outlet of the lower chamber. Due to the contines of the lower chamber,` it is evident that the drainage from piper32 mustof necessityk leave the `chamber with the flowfpassing throughV outlet 33b so that no accumulatori ofthe drainage can occur. It can also be seen that the lower chamber prevents the drainage from indiscriminately settling into tank A27 and thereby accumulating along its bottom portion.

Vaporwhich fails to condense within upper chamber 29 is delivered by vapor pipe 36 to line 37 which is connected to a suction region of the induction system such as between the carburetor and the crankcase. Thus the suction of the induction system removes the uncondensed cavity l which is provided with cover 18. Conventional Y i. drainage passage 19 which would otherwise release the drainage'liquid to the exhaust system within housing 20 is blocked by plug 2l extending from cover 18. With this arrangement the drainage liquid entering into the cavityrflows through discharge passage 22 andrthen into drainage line 23. After passing through lter Z4 the drainage liquid is delivered by pump 25 actuated by motor 26 toward fuel tank' 27.

Distributing unit 28 for meteringthe liquid from the drainage system into the fuel-oil mixture to be delivered to carburetor 15 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed within fuel tank 27. The unit includes upper chamber 29 having pipe 30 which is adapted Lto be connected to line 31 exf tending from pump 25. Pipe 30 which opens into the in- Vterior of upper chamber 29 enables the chamber to receive the liquid and vapor recovered by the drainage system and directed to the unit by means of pump 25. TheY vapors frorn the upper chamber as they accumulate anddelivers the vapors for combustion withinthe cylinders. With the provision` of vapor pipe 36 and vapor line 37 connected toa suction region of the induction system, tank 27 can be sealed with cap 27a closing the opening through` which the' fuel-oil mixture is inserted into the tank.

Whenever the drainage system "of the engine is capable of delivering the drainage Veffectively withoutthe need of drainage pump 25, pipe 30 and line 31 are connected directly to discharge passage 22. Where the amount of uncondensed vapor is negligible, vapor pipe 36 can bevented to the atmosphereif the tank is to remain sealed or inthe case where the tank is vented such as by an opening in cap 27a, vapor pipe 36 can be conditioned to communicate with the interior portion of the tank above the fuel-oil mixture level.

As shown in FIG. 3 the fuel system can be sealed with respectto the engine. In thekr sealed system distributing unit 38 is provided with upper chamber 39 containing vent opening 4t). Pipe 41 deliversv the drainage liquid and vapor to the upper chamber where a portion ofthe vapor kcan condense and pass with the drainage liquid through pipe 42 into lowerchamber'43. VDue to the provision of vent opening 40 vapor `can pass into the interior portion of tank 27 above the fuel-lubricating oil mixture. The mixture flowing to the engine enters the lower chamber through inlet 44 and passes onto pipeV 4S as the drainage Y liquid is entrained therein.V Pipe 46 which is connected to a suctionV region in the induction system of the engine carries olf the uncondensed vapor from the upper chamber v as well as the interior of the tank. Thus unit 38 enables the entire fuelsystemto be sealedA and enables the engine to be operated without loss of vapor Vor Aundesirable increases in pressure in the fuelsystem.

Itis to be understood that unit 28 can be incorporated v as an integral part of a tanky or may comprise a separate assembly which is either connected to the interior of the tank at its inlet 33a or which is adapted to be installed into an existing tank by insertion through the fillerk opening which is covered by cap 27a. Y

While the invention has been described in some detail it is to be understood that certain changes in the arrangement and fabrication of Vparts can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention` except asset forth in the appanded claims.'

i What is claimed is: y Y

1. In an internal-combustion engine khaving an induction system for delivering a working'charge of air to the engine, said induction system receivingfuel and Vlubricating oil drainage during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a supply thereof to the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage `from the Y induction system to the mixture-being delivered by the Vfuelsystem to the engine comprising structure forming a chamber adapted to be serially connected to the fuel system, said chamber forming'a flow passage having an inlet and outlet `through which the mixture is adapted to flow, and means connected to said chamber for delivering the drainage from the induction system to said chamber adjacent to the path of ow therein, whereby the drainage is distributed to the mixture as it flows through said chamber.

2. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a working charge of air to the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the vapor thereof during operation, and -a-fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a supply thereof tothe engine for'combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system'to the mixturey being delivered by the fuel system to the engine comprising structure forming achamber'a'daptedto be serially connected to the fuel system, said chamber forming a fiow passage having an inlet and outlet through which the mixture is adapted to ow, means connected to said chamber vfor delivering the drainage and the vapor thereof from the induction system toward saidchamber adjacent to the path of ow therein, and means for condensing the vapor within said delivering means, whereby the drainage and the condensed vapor thereof is distributed tothe mixture as it flows through said chamber.

3. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a working charge of air to the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a container therefor to the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system to the mixture being delivered by the fuel system to the engine comprising structure forming a chamber adapted to be serially connected to the fuel system and adapted to be disposed within the interior of the container, said chamber forming a ow passage having an inlet and outlet opening through which the mixture is adapted to flow, said inlet opening being in communication with the interior of the container, and means connected to said chamber for delivering the drainage from `the induction system to said chamber adjacent to the path of ow therein from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, whereby the drainage is distributed to the mixture as it flows through said chamber.

4. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a working charge of air to the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the vapor thereof during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a supply thereof to the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system to the mixture being delivered by the fuel system to the engine comprising structure forming a chamber adapted to be connected to the induction system to receive the drainage and vapor therefrom, said chamber being adapted to condense at least a portion of the vapor, structure forming an additional chamber adapted to be serially connected to the fuel system, said additional chamber forming a ilow passage having aninlet and outlet through Which the mixture is adapted to flow along a substantially predetermined path, and means connected to said chamber for delivering the drainage and the condensed vapor thereof to said adfditional chamber adjacent to the path of flow therein,

whereby the drainage and condensed vapor thereof is dischamber.

5. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a working charge of air to the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the vapor thereof during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a supply thereof to the engine for combustributed to the mixture as it flows through said additional y tion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system to the mixture being delivered by the fuel system to the engine compristermined path, means connected tosaid chamber for delivering the' drainage and the condensed vapor thereof to said additional chamber adjacent to the path of flow therein, and additional means connected to said chamber for delivering the uncondensed portion of said vapor from said chamber to the induction system for combustion Within the engine, whereby the drainage and condensed vapor thereof is distributed to the mixture as it ows through said additional chamber.

6. In Van internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a 'working charge of air to the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the vapor thereof during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a supply thereof to 'the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system to the mixture being delivered by the fuel system to the engine comprising structure forming a chamber adapted to be connected to the induction system to receive the drainage and vapor therefrom, means within said chamber for condensing at least a portion of the vapor, structure forming an additional chamber adapted to be serially connected to the fuel system, said additional chamber forming a flow passage having an inlet and outlet through which the mixture is adapted topow along a substantially predetermined path, means connected to said chamber for delivering the drainage and the condensed vapor thereof to said additional chamber adjacent to the path of flow therein, and means connected to said chamber for venting the uncondensed portion of said vapor from said chamber, whereby the drainage and condensed vapor thereof is distributed to the mixture as it flows through said additional chamber.

7. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering :a working charge of air to -the engine, said induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the Vapor thereof during operation, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a container therefor to the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing the drainage from the induction system to the mixture being delivered by the fuel system to the engine comprising structure forming a chamber adapted rto be serially connected to the fuel system, said chamber forming a flow passage having an inlet connected to the interior of the container and an outlet connected to the engine, the mixture adapted `to ow through the flow passage, means connected to said chamber for delivering the drainage and the vapor thereof from the induction system to said chamber adjacent to the path of flow therein,'and additional means connected to said chamber for delivering the uncondensed vapor of said drainage to the interior of said container, whereby the drainage is distributed to the mixture as it ows through said chamber.

8. In an internal combustion engine having an induction system for delivering a working charge of air to the engine, lsaid induction system receiving fuel and lubricating oil drainage and the vapor thereof during operadion, and a fuel system for delivering a fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a container therefor to the engine for combustion therein, the combination of a device for distributing' the drainage from the induction system to outlet,"the mixture kbeing adapted to ilo-w through the t oW passage, means connected `to saidV chamber for deliver-ing the drainage and the vapor .thereof from-rhein- 'duction system to ysaid chamber adjacent to the path of-flowtherein, said chamber having-a5 vent adapted lfor communication' with the upper interiorvportion of said f tank which extends above the mixture therein; andrneains Vconnected to said chamber for delivering the Vuncondensfed vapor of the drainage from y.said chamber to the induc- 'gtionsystem Vfor combustion within theenginefwhereby they drainage is distributed to the mixture as it ows through said chamber.

r9. The method of distributingrfuel `and lubricating oil drainage fluid from the .induction system of an engine,

the drainage fluid containing liquid and condensed vapor,

the induction system beingadapted to deliver a Working I fm Q vapor of :the drainage fluid `into thegstream of' the kmixture owing in the fuel system. f

v10. The method of distributing fuel andlubricatingoil drainage fluid from the induction system of Van engine,

the drainage uid containing/liquid and vapor, the in- Y duction system being adapted to deliver a Working charge of air to the engine, the engine having a vfuel system for delivering a 'fuel and lubricating oil mixture from a containertherefor to the engine -for combustion rtherein, the y method comprising `the lIst/eps of flowing the mixture through the fuel system from the containertoward the engine, condensing at least a portion of the vapor'o the drainage uid, delivering `the condensed vapor and the Yliquid' of the drainage fluid Vfrom lthe inductionV system into the mixture flowing in the fuel system toward, the. engine. Y y,

References Cited by. the lixamiinerV UNITED STATES PATENTS Y 1,147,232 7/15 l Gibson 123.41.21 2,147,993 v2/39y Scheibe L Q ,.'123f412 2,579,023 `12/51 Thomas Y'" 123-136 2,717,584 9/55 Upton V 5123-73 2,935,057V 5/60 Perlewitz k r l23v-7136 c FOREIGN n PATENTS Y 905,092 4/45` France. g 1,140,185 2/57 France.`

RICHARD B. vvrLKrNsoN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING AN INDUCTION SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING A WORKING CHARGE OF AIR TO THE ENGINE, SAID INDUCTION SYSTEM RECEIVING FUEL AND LUBRICATING OIL DRAINAGE DURING OPERATION, AND A FUEL SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING A FUEL AND LUBRICATING OIL MIXTURE FROM A SUPPLY THEREOF TO THE ENGINE FOR COMBUSTION THEREIN, THE COMBINATION OF A DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING THE DRAINAGE FROM THE INDUCTION SYSTEM TO THE MIXTURE BEING DELIVERED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM TO THE ENGINE COMPRISING STRUCTURE FORMING A CHAMBER ADAPTED TO BE SERIALLY CONNECTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM, SAID CHAMBER FORMING A FLOW PASSAGE HAVING AN INLET AND OUTLET THROUGH WHICH THE MIXTURE IS ADAPTED TO FLOW, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER FOR DELIVERING THE DRAINAGE FROM THE INDUCTION SYSTEM TO SAID CHAMBER ADJACENT TO THE PATH OF FLOW THEREIN, WHEREBY THE DRAINAGE IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE MIXTURE AS IT FLOWS THROUGH SAID CHAMBER. 